Hydraulic power drive for gun mount



Oct. 16, 1956 w. H. NEWELL ET AL 2,766,587

HYDRAULIC POWER DRIVE FOR GUN MOUNT 6 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed Dec. 20, 1944 INVENTORS L Y M EV WR N s R am m H T MM A M LR w Oct. 16, 1956 w. H. NEWELL ET AL HYDRAULIC POWER DRIVE FOR GUN MOUNT 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20, 1944 INVENTORS WILLIAM H. NEWELL VLAWREA/ggg. BROWN W ia TTORNEY mm m n and Oct. 16, 1956 w. H. NEWELL ET AL 2,766,587

HYDRAULIC POWER DRIVE FOR GUN MOUNT Filed Dec. 20, 1944 e Sheets-Sheet s 14v VENTORS WILLIAM H. NEWELL fAwRE/vcE 8 BROWN Oct. 16, 1956 W.'H. NEWELL ET AL HYDRAULIC POWER DRIVE FOR GUN MOUNT 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 20, 1944 mHN Oct. '16, 1956 w. H. NEWELL ET AL ,7 87

HYDRAULIC POWER DRIVE FOR GUN MOUNT Filed Dec. 20, 1944 e Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VE N T 0R5 WILLIAM H. NEWELL WRENCE $.BROWN ATTGRNEY United States Patent HYDRAULIC POWER DRIVE FOR GUN MOUNT William H. Newell, New York, and Lawrence S. Brown, Long Island City, N. Y., assignors to Sperry Rand Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application December 20, 1944, Serial No. 568,952

19 Claims. (Cl. 6053) This invention relates to power driven hydraulic gun control systems of the type disclosed in a co-pending application of Newell, Tear and Brown entitled Automatic Gun Control System, Ser. No. 534,330, filed May 5, 1944, now U. S. Patent No. 2,569,571, issued Oct. 2 1951, in which a gun mount is driven in response to movement of a precessed gyroscope at controlled rates of train and elevation and the gun is automatically given a lead or deflection with respect to the line of sight, both in train and in elevation, which is a function of the range, the speed of the observer and the rate of train and elevation.

The present invention provides hydraulic means for transferring the control from the automatic mechanism referred to above to manual control so that the automatic mechanism can be cut out of operation when, for any reason, it is not operating properly or when it has been damaged. When this transfer is made, the operators handles are connected so as to control the hydraulic power drive directly instead of through precession'of the gyroscope. The invention also provides means for rendering all of the driving means inoperative and bringing the gun mount to rest, as, for example, after the firing has been completed.

The invention also provides automatic control means for stopping the elevational movement of the gun mount before the gun has reached the lower limit of its travel so as to prevent the gun from hitting or firing into the deck or plane on which it is mounted.

The novel features which are characteristic of this invention are pointed out in the claims appended hereto. The nature of the invention, its objects and advantages will be better understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof in which a specific embodiment has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a section through the manual control block illustrating the hydraulic connections set for automatic operation;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the manual control block similar to Fig. 1 but showing the hydraulic mechanism set for manual operation;

Fig. 3 is a partial diagram of the selector valve in position to de-energize the gun driving mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1 showing the connecting linkages for the manual operating handles;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the manual operating handles;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the operating handle support taken on the line 6-6 of Fig; 1;

Fig. 7 is a section through the pump block showing the hydraulic control mechanism set for automatic operation and forms a continuation of the hydraulic system of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a section through the pump block similar to Fig. 7, but showing the hydraulic connections corresponding to the selector valve setting of Fig. 3; and

1 2,766,587 Patented Oct. 16, 1956 Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic system showing part of the stop mechanism.

Referring to Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 6, the manual control mechanism is shown as comprising a pair of handles 10 and 11 mounted on a horizontal shaft 12 which is journalled for rotation in a housing 13. The handles 10 and i1 carry firing buttons 14 by which the guns are fired when desired. The horizontal shaft 12 carries an arm 15 (Fig. 6) which is connected by a link 16 to actuate a plunger 17 having a pair of collars 18. A horizontal shaft 20 journalled in bearings 21 carried by a casing 22 is provided with an arm 23 (Fig. 4) having a pin 24 which rides between the collars 18 on the plunger 17. The shaft 20 carries at the other end an arm 25 (Figs. 4 and 5) which is connected by a link 26 to actuate a plunger 27 (Figs. 1 and 5) forming a part of an elevation pressure generating valve 30. The connection is suchand which also carries the casing 22. The sleeve 31' carries a segment of a bevelled gear 35 meshing with a' bevelled rack 36 carried by a horizontal shaft 37 which is journalled in bearings 38 attached to the casing 22 and carries an arm 39 (Figs. 4 and 6) which is connected by a link 40 (Figs. 1 and 6) to actuate a plunger 27T froming a part of a train pressure generating valve 311T. The connection is such that rotation of the handles 10 and 11 about the vertical axis of the housing 13 actuates the plunger 271 to control the pressure generated by the valve 30T in the manner to be described.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 7 which, when placed one above the other constitute a complete diagram of the hydraulic system, as shown in Fig. 9, the valve 30 which is formed in the valve block 33 includes a pilot valve 50 which is formed by the center portion of the plunger 27 and a sleeve valve 51which is mounted in a bore 52 in the valve block 33 and follows the movement of the pilot valve 50. Chambers 53 and 54 are formed in the bore '52 at opposite ends of the sleeve valve 51 and balanced springs 55 and 56 are mounted in the chambers 53 and 54 to bear against the opposite ends of the sleeve valve 51 pendent upon the displacement of the sleeve valve 51 7 from its mid-position and the fluid pressure in the chamber 53 varies according to its rate of movement because of the metering pin 91. The pressure Pe of the fluid from chamber 54 is supplied by a passage 58 through an annular groove 59 in a transfer valve 60, to be described, to a duct 61 as an elevation control rate to a converter unit such as an angle gyro which generates a response volume Ve as more fully set forth in the co-pending application above identified. In said application the pressure in the duct 61 is supplied as a precessing force to a gyro and causes the gyro to precess at a rate proportional to said pressure. The gyro, in turn, controls a valve that varies the volume of a liquid chamber, herein called the response volume, in accordance with its angular position.

Fluid under a pressure P2 which is higher than-the 3 65 and passages 66 and 67 in the valve block 33 to an annular groove 68 formed in the sleeve valve 51. Fluid under return pressure P8 is taken from an annular groove 70 in the sleeve valve 51 through passages 71 and 72 in the valve block 33 to a duct 74. Annular grooves 68 and 7t communicate through passages75 and 76 respectively with the pilot valve 50, through ports normally positioned on opposite sides of an annular groove 77 which communicates through a passage 78 in the sleeve valve 51 with the chamber 54. The pilot valve 50 is arranged so that when in mid-position the ports of passages 75 and 76 are both blocked off but when the pilot valve 50 is shifted in one direction or the other, communication is established between either the passage 75 or the passage 76 and the chamber 54 so as to either build up or reduce the pressure in the latter chamber and to cause a corresponding movement of the sleeve valve 51. In this Way the sleeve valve 51 is caused to follow the movement of the pilot valve 50 and to generate a pressure in the chamber 54 which is a function of such movement.

' In a similar manner and by parts which are given the same reference characters with the suffix T, movement of, the plunger 271 actuates the pilot valve 501 to cause corresponding movement of sleeve valve 51T to generate a, pressure Pt in chamber 54T which is supplied through annular groove 59T in the transfer valve 60 and duct 61T as a train control rate to a converter unit such as an angle gyro which. generates a response volume Vt as set forth more fully in said co-pending application Ser. No. 534,330, the rate being determined by the position and rate of movement of the handles 10 and 11 about the vertical axis of the housing 13.

Fluid at the intermediate pressure P1 is supplied to the chamber 53 from a P1 generating valve 80 having a slide 81, a P1 chamber 82 and a P6 chamber 83 at opposite ends thereof. Fluid under pressure P2 is supplied to the valve 80 from the passage 66 through a passage 84 and return fluid under pressure P11 is taken from the valve 80 through passage 85 to the passage 72. Chamber 83 is connected to the passage 72 by a passage 86. A spring 87 controls the operation of the slide 81 and determines the pressure generated in the chamber 82. The chamber 32 communicates, through a passage 83 in the slide 81 with an annular groove 89 which is normally blocked 011 from the passages 84 and 85 when the slide 81 is in itsbalanced position. chamber 82, however, causes movement of the slide 31 which establishes communication with the passage 84 or the passage 85 and. restores the pressure to its predetermined value. The chamber 82 communicates through a passage, 91) with the passage 57 above mentioned. A metering pin, 91 entering the passage 57, serves to cause a pressure. drop due to. the flowof fluid therethrough so as to cause the pressure in chamber 53 to vary according to the rate, of movement of sleeve valve 51.

The transfer valve 61 includes a slide 95 having the grooves 59 and 59T above mentioned formed therein and forming, with a bore in the valve block 33, chambers 96 and 97 respectively. The chamber 96 i connected by a passage 93 to the passage 90 supplying fluid under pressure P1. The chamber 97 is connected by a passage 99 and a passage 100 to a selector or control valve 101 to be described. The upper end of slide 95 is reduced in diameter to provide an annular chamber 102 communicating with the chamber 96. A cross passage 103 forming ports in slide. 95 is connected by an axial passage with the chamber 96. In the position of selector valve 101 shown in Fig. 1 pressure P2 is supplied to the chamber 97 and the slide 95 is held in its upper position so that the annular chamber 102 and the ports of passage 193 are blocked 011 and communication is established from the passage 58, through the annular groove 59 to the duct 61 and from the passage ST through the annular groove 59T in the duct 61T. In its lower position, as shown in Any variation in the pressure in the Fig. 2, grooves 59 and 591 are both blocked off and communication is established from duct 61 through an-. nular chamber 102 to chamber 96 and from duct 61T through passage 103 to chamber 96, so that fluid under a constant pressure P1 is supplied to both the ducts 61 and 61T for the purpose to be described.

As set forth in the co-pending application above identified, movement of the angle gyroscope in train and in elevation in response to train and elevation pressures supplied by ducts 61T and 61 generates response volumes.

Vt and Va respectively which are supplied to ducts 110 and 111 respectively. Duct 110 communicates through a passage 112 with an annular groove 113 in a transfer valve 114 and duct 111 communicates through passage 115 with an annular groove 116 in said transfer valve 114 when the valve 114 is in the position shown in Fig. 1.

. The lower end of valve 114 forms one wall of a chamber 118 which is supplied with fluid under pressure P2, when the control valve 1111 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, through a passage 119 communicating with the passage 100. The upper end of valve 114 forms one wall of-a chamber 120 which is supplied with fluid. under a pressure P1 through a passage 121 communicating with the' passage 90. In the position shown in Fig. l, the annular grooves 113 and 116 communicate respectively with passages 122 and 123 which connect with ducts 124 and 125 respectively to supply the response volumes to the pump control apparatus of Fig. 7.

In the lower position of transfer valve 114 as shown in Fig. 2, annular grooves 113 and 116 communicate respectively with passages 126 and 127 and establish communication between the latter passages and ducts 124 and 125 respectively, blocking off ducts 110 and 111.

The selector valve 101 comprises a slide 130 which is manually shiftable into three positions by means of a handle 131.

the annular groove 133 communicates with a passage to supply fluid under pressure P2 to duct 141. In its upper position as shown in Fig. 3, the annular groove 133 is blocked off and passage 141; communicates with the annu lar groove 135 to supply fluid under pressure P0 to the duct 141.

With the slide 130 in its lower position as shownin Fig. 1, the annular groove 133 communicates with the passage 1111) to supply fluid under pressure P2 thereto. With the slide in its intermediate and upper positions as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the passage 111%) communicates with the annular groove 135 which contains fluid under pressure P0.

Referringto Fig. 2, manual response volume generating valves 1 50 and T are connected to supply elevation and train response volumes respectively to the ducts 125,,

and 124. The valve 150 comprises a slide 151, a control chamber 152 and a response volume chamber 153. The

control chamber 152 is connected through passage 154 to. the valve 114. which, in the position shown in Fig. 2, establishes communication through the groove 116 to the The slide 130 is provided with a pair of annular grooves 132 and 133 connected by a passage 134' In its upper position, as shown in duct 125 to supply elevation response volume for controlling the operation of the pump to be described.

In order to introduce an acceleration factor into the control, the valve 150 is shown as provided with a stationary sleeve 160 having a port 161 which is normally disposed intermediate to passages in the slide 151 communicating with annular grooves 162 and 163 respectively which, in turn, communicate through passages 164 and 165 respectively with passage 72 containing fluid under pressure P0 and with passage 67 containing fluid under pressure P2. The sleeve 160 contains a central opening 166 which communicates with the chamber 153 so that when the slide 151 is displaced from its mid-position flow of fluid is established through either the passage 164 or the passage 165 and the port 161 and the chamber 153. The flow is in such a direction as to restore the slide 151 to its mid-position when the pressure in the chamber 153 is brought to balance the fluid pressure in the chamber 152.

In a similar manner, movement of the slide 151T in response to variations in pressure in the chamber 541" of the train pressure generating valve 30T causes a variation in train response volume which is supplied through passage 157T to the passage 126, thence through annular groove 113 of the valve 114 to the duct 124 to supply train response volume to the train pump to be described. The other elements of the valve 150T are similar to those of the valve 150 and have been given the same reference characters with the sui'fix T.

Summarizing the operation of the system shown in Fig. 1, it will be noted that when the selector valve 101 is in its lower position as shown, fluid under pressure P2 is supplied through the passage 66, passage 137, selector valve 101, passage 100 and passage 99 to the chamber 97 of the transfer valve 60 so as to hold the valve slide 95 in its upper position, and through passage 119 to chamber 118 of the transfer valve 114 to hold the slide of the latter valve in its upper portion. With the valve 60 in its upper position, communication is established between the ducts 61 and 61T and the respective elevation and train pressure generating chambers 54 and 54T to actuate the automatic train and elevation mechanism (not shown) in accordance with the movement of the handles and 11. With the valve 114 in its upper position, the connections to the chambers 153 and 153T of the valves 150 and 150T are blocked ofi and the train and elevation response volume ducts 110 and 111 are connected directly to the ducts 124 and 125. In this condition the operation is entirely automatic as set forth in the co-pending application above identified.

With selector valve 101 in its intermediate position as shown in Fig. 2, pressure P0 is connected to the chambers 97 and 118 of the transfer valves 60 and 114 respectively, causing these valves to take their lower positions. In this position the connection from the chambers 54 and 54T to the ducts 61 and 61T are broken and a constant pressure P1 is supplied to the ducts 61 and 61T from the passage 98, thereby rendering the automatic mechanism ineffective. At the same time, the ducts 110 and 111 carrying the response volumes from the automatic mechanism are blocked 011 by the slide of valve 114 and the ducts 124 and 125 are connected to receive response volumes from the chambers 153T and 153 of the manual control valves 150T and 150. These valves are controlled directly from the pressure generating valves 30 and 301" which are actuated by the handles 10 and 11. Hence the train and elevation response volume are generated manually by the operation of the handles 10 and 11 instead of automatically through the medium of the automatic control mechanism which, in the case of Fig. 1, is operated by the elevation and train pressures supplied to ducts 61 and 61T.

The operation of the selector valve 101 when in its upper position, as indicated in Fig. 3, will be described after the pump mechanism has been more fully described.

In Fig. 7 a pair of variable displacement pumps forming a part of variable speed reversible hydraulic transmis: sions are shown. The pumps are of a well known form and are driven at a constant speed to supply fluid at a nected to drive hydraulic pumps 171 and 172, the out-' puts of which are respectively controlled by arms 173 and 174 in a manner such that the rates of fluid output and the direction of flow are determined by the positions of said arms with respect to their mid-positions. Ducts 175 and 176 lead from the output of pump 171' to a reversible elevation hydraulic motor 177 shown in Fig. 9 and ducts 178 and 179 lead from the output of the pump 172 to a reversible train hydraulic motor 180 shown in Fig. 9. These motors are connected to drive the gun mounts in train and in elevation as described more in detail in the co-pending application above identified.

The elevation response volume duct 125 leads to an elevation relay or pilot valve 181 and an elevation pump control power unit 182. The train response volume duct 124 leads to a train relay or pilot valve 181T and a train pump control power unit 182T.

Fluid under pressure P2 for operating the entire system is derived from a pump 183 supplying a duct 184 which connects with the P2 pressure duct 65 above identified. The duct 65 also connects through a passage 185 with a pressure control valve 186 having a valve slide 187 forming a pressure chamber 188 at one end and an outlet chamber 189 at the other end. The pressure chamber 188 is in communication with the passage 185 through an annular groove 190 and a passage 191 in the slide 187. The outlet chamber 189 connects with a fluid return passage 192. The passage 192 also connects through a passage 193 with the valve slide 187 below the annular groove 190. The valve slide 187 is biased upwardly by a spring 194, the characteristics of which determine the pressure P2 in the chamber 188, the slide 187 establishing communication between the annular groove 190 and the exhaust passage 193 when the pressure in the chamber 188 forces the slide downwardly against the action of the spring 194. The passage 193' is closed when the spring pressure balances the fluid pressure in the chamber 188 and restores the slide 187 to the position shown.

The elevation pilot valve 181 comprises a valve slide 200 forming with the valve block 201 a response volume chamber 202, a pressure chamber 203 and an exh-aust chamber 204 which are connected respectively to the elevation response volume duct 125, the pressure duct 184 and the exhaust passage 192. The area of the slide 200 in contact with the pressure chamber 203 is preferably onehalf of the area in contact with the response volume chamber 202 so that the valve will be balanced when the pressure of the fluid in the duct 125 is one-half of the pressure P2 in the duct 184, that is, it is equal to P1.

The slide 200 is provided with an annular groove 205 communicating with a passage 206 in the valve block 201 which supplies fluid to an annular groove 207 in a slide 208 of a stop valve 209, thence through passage 210 in the valve block 201 to a chamber 211 of the power unit 182. Passages 212 and 213 connected to the duct 184 and the return passage 192 respectively connect with the slide 200 above and below the annular groove 205 when the slide is in its mid-position, but are adapted to be connected respectively with the annular groove 205 when the slide is shifted in one direction or the other from its mid-position, so as to connect the chamber 211 either with the pressure duct 184 or with the return passage 192 depending upon the position of the slide 200.

The elevation response volume duct 125 also communicates through a passage 215 with a chamber 216 of the power unit 182. The power unit 182 comprises a piston or slide 217 forming the power chamber 211 at one end and the response volume chamber 216 at the opposite end and having a surface forming a pressure chamber 218 at the same end as the response chamber 216. The chamber 218 is connected through passage 219 with the P2 pressure duct 184.

The piston 217 maintains a position determined by the balance of pressure in the chambers 216 and 218 at one end and the chamber 211 at the other end. When the slide is in its mid-position the arm 173 is in a position such that no flow is produced by the pump 171.

The stop valve 209 is provided with a pressure chamber 220 .at one end and with an exhaust chamber 221 at the other end. A spring 222 urges the slide 208 of the valve 209 upwardly against the pressure of the fluid in the pressure chamber 220.

The pressure chamber 220 is connected by a passage 223 and annular groove 235 of a solenoid operated valve 230, with the duct 141 of Fig. 1. The exhaust chamber 221 is connected with the return passage 192.

A passage 225 in the block 201 communicates at one end with the slide 208 of the valve 209 in a position such that with the slide in its lower position, as shown in Fig. 7, the passage 225 is blocked off thereby, but with the slide in its upper position as shown in Fig. 8, the passage 225 communicates with the annular groove 207 in the slide 208. At its other end, the passage 225 communicates with the slide 217 just below the pressure chamber 218 so that it is normally blocked oif by the slide 217 but communicates with the pressure chamber 218 when the slide 217 is lowered. The slide 208 is also provided with an annular groove 226 which in both positions of the slide communicates with a passage 227 leading to the slide 217 just above the chamber 211 and normally blocked off by the slide 217. When the slide 217 is raised, however, the passage 227 is brought into communication with the chamber 211. With the slide 208 in its upper position as shown in Fig. 8, the annular groove 226 communicates through a passage 228 with the return passage 192.

Fig. 7 shows the pump pilot valve 181 in balanced position and the stop valve 209 in its lower position. If now it is assumed that the response volume supplied through the line 125 changes, the pilot valve 181 is actuated to connect either the pressure line 184 or the exhaust passage 192 through the annular groove 287 of the valve 209 to the power chamber 211 of the power unit 182, thereby causing the power unit to operate so that the volume of the chamber 216 is changed to conform to the new response volume. After this occurs, the pilot valve 181 returns to its original position and the response volume change has been reflected in the operation of the power unit 182.

This condition of operation continues as long as pressure is supplied from the duct141 through valve 230 to the chamber 220 of valve 209. When, however, the pressure in the duct 141 is reduced, the spring 222 forces the slide 208 upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 8. In this position communication between the passage 206 and the passage 210 is broken and the passage 210 is brought into communication with the passage 225 through the annular groove 207. At the same time, the passage 227 is brought into communication with the return passage 192 through the annular groove 226 and the passage 2.23. This has the effect of equalizing the pressures in the chambers 211 and 218 of the power unit and causing the slide 217 thereof to return to its mid-position. If, for example, the slide 217 is above its mid-position the chamber 211 is connected to the passage 227 to reduce the pressure therein and if the slide 217 is below its mid-position the chamber 218 is connected through the passages 225 and 210 to the chamber 211 to increase the pressure in the chamber 211 until the slide 21'] reaches its mid-position. The effect, therefore, of decreasing the pressure in the duct 141 so as to actuate the stop valve 209 is to stop the flow from the pump 171 regardless of the positions of the other controls.

Valves 209T, 181T and power unit 182T are connected to control the operation of the pump 172 in a similar manner and corresponding parts thereof have been given the same reference characters as those above identified with the suflix T.

The solenoid operated cut off valve 230 comprises a slide 231 having chambers 232 and 233 at opposite ends thereof connected with the return pressure passage 192T. The slide 231 is provided with an annular groove 235 which, with the valve in the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8, establishes communication from the duct 141 to the passage 223 leading to the chamber 220 of the stop valve 209. The slide 231 of the valve 230 is normally held in its lower position by a spring 238. A solenoid 239 is provided for shifting the slide 231 to its upper position. When in its upper position communication from the duct 141 to the passage 223 is broken and the passage 223 is brought into communication with the passage 192T through the annular groove 235. For this purpose, the connection from chamber 232 to passage 192T is provided with an elongated port 240 which is normally blocked off from the annular groove 235 by the slide 231, but which communicates with the annular groove 235 when the slide 231 is in its upper position.

It will be evident from the above that with the solenoid 239 deenergized the elevation control mechanism operates as above described, but with the solenoid 239 energized, the chamber 220 of the valve 209 is brought into communication with the return pressure passage 192T so that the pressure in this chamber is reduced and the slide 208 is moved upwardly to cut off the control from the pilot valve 181 and cause the slide 217 to return to its midposition, thereby stopping the flow of fluid from the pump 171.

Referring to Fig. 9, the ducts 175 and 176 are shown as leading to valves 245 and 246 respectively which are connected to ducts 247 and 248 respectively leading to the elevation motor 177. The valves 245 and 246 are shown as provided with plungers 249 and 250 respectively connected by arms 251 and 252 extending from a shaft 253. The shaft 253 is connected by a link 254 with a solenoid 255. The armature of the solenoid is normally maintained in its upper position by a spring 256.

The valve 245 is connected with a duct 260 which is connected by a duct 261 to the duct 74 carrying fluid under return pressure P0. The valve 246 is supplied with fluid under pressure P2 by a duct 262 which is connected with the duct carrying fluid under the pressure P2. A check valve 263 is connected in the duct 262 to prevent the reverse flow of fluid therein.

The plunger 249 of the valve 245 is provided with an annular recess 265 which, in the position shown in Fig. 9, establishes communication between the duct and the duct 247. When the plunger 249 is shifted to the left, however, the duct 175 is closed off and the recess 265 establishes communication between the duct 247 and the duct 260. Similarly, with the plunger 250 in the position shown in Fig. 9, communication is established between the ducts 176 and 248, but with the plunger shifted to the left the duct 176 is blocked off and communication is established between ducts 248 and 262. Both plungers 249 and 250 are shifted to the left when the solenoid 255 is actuated.

It will be noted that with the valves 245 and 246 in the position shown, the elevation motor 177 is under the control of the elevation pump 171 and operates in the usual manner as the B end of a variable speed reversible hydraulic transmission. With the valves 245 and 246 shifted to the left, however, the ducts 175 and 176 are blocked ofi, thereby cutting off the control of the elevation motor 177 from the pump 171 and connecting the ducts 247 and 248 supplying the elevation motor 177 with the ducts 260 and 262 respectively, thereby supplying fluid under pressure from the duct 262 through the duct 248 to the elevation motor and connecting the duct 247 to the return fluid duct 261. The elevation motor is then under the influence of the pressure P2 which is supplied to cause actuation thereof in a direction to elevate the gun mount as will be more fully described. In order to prevent damage to the system in case the pump 171 is not at zero stroke when the valves 245 and 246 are shifted to block off the ducts 175 and 176, a suitable relief valve 266 is provided between the ducts 175 and 176. A similar relief valve 266T may be provided between the ducts 178 and 179.

The elevation motor 177 is connected to drive the gun mount in elevation by means including gears 270 and 271 (Fig. 9). The gear 271 is provided with an insulated lug 272 which is adapted to engage and close contacts 273 when the gear 271 has reached a predetermined position. Contacts 273 are connected by conductors 274 through a power supply 275 to solenoid 239 and to the solenoid 255 in parallel so that both solenoids are actuated when the contacts 273 are closed. The lug 272 is so arranged with respect to the gun mount as to engage and close the contacts 273 when the amount reaches its lowest permissible position. Suitable means, not shown, may be provided to control this position as a function of train so that in each position of the mount in train the contacts 273 will be closed at the lowest permissible position in elevation such that the gun would not hit or shoot into the plane or Vessel on which it is mounted.

When the contacts 273 are closed, the valves 245 and 246 are shifted to the left in the manner above pointed out to place the elevation motor 177 under the control of the pressure P2 supplied through a duct 262. v

This pressure is supplied in a direction to cause the elevation motor to elevate the gun mount and it will be noted that as soon as the mount has been elevated sufiiciently to open the contact 273 the solenoids 239 and 255 will be released and the elevation motor will again be brought under the control of the pump 171.

The operation of the above described system will be understood from the above detailed description. This operation may be summarized as follows:

There are three selected conditions of operation dependent upon the position of the selector valve 101. The first position is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7, which may be taken together to show a complete system. Referring to Fig. 1, the selector valve 101 is in a position such that fluid under pressure P2 is supplied to the passages 100- and 141). The passage 100 communicates with the chamber 97 of the transfer valve 60 and with chamber 118 of the transfer valve 114, thereby causing both of these valves to take their upper position. The passage 141) communicates with the chambers 220 and 220T of the stop valves 209 and 209T of Fig. 7, thereby causing both of these valves to take their lower position as shown in Fig. 7.

With the transfer valves 60 and 114 both raised as shown in Fig. 1, elevation and train control pressures are supplied from the pressure generating valves 30 and 301 to the ducts 61 and 61T which lead to automatic elevation and train gyro control apparatus which may be of the type set forth in the co-pending application above identified and is adapted to produce elevation and train response volumes which are supplied through the ducts 110 and 111 of Fig. 1 direct to the pilot valves 181 and 181T of Fig. 7 for controlling the operation of the pumps 171 and 172 in the manner above pointed out. With the stop valves 2G9 and 299T in their lower position as shown I in Fig. 7, the power units 182 and 182T are under the 10 control of the pilot valves 131 and 181T and full auto matic operation of the gun mount is obtained.

Referring now to Fig. 2 and Fig. 7 taken together, the system is shown in the position corresponding to the center position of the selector valve 1111. In this position pressure P2 is still supplied to the passage 146 which leads to the control apparatus of Fig. 7. Hence, there is no change in the operation of this apparatus. However, the duct instead of being connected to pressure as in Fig. l, is now connected to the return pressure P0, thereby connecting the chambers 97 and 118 of the transfer valves 60 and 114 respectively to low pressure and allowing the slides thereof to fall to the position shown in Fig. 2. In this position the ducts 61 and 61T- leading to the automatic control apparatus are connected to the intermediate pressure P1 in passage 98. By thus connecting the ducts 61 and 61T to the intermediate pressure P1 the rates in train and elevation applied to the and 150 and valves 3(iT and T respectively and the automatic control apparatus is cut out of operation.

This position of the valve 101 may be selected, for

example, when the automatic control apparatus has been damaged or when, for other reasons, it is desired to effect a direct manual control of the elevation and train motors.

The operation of the system with the selector valve 101 in its third position will be evident from Figs. 2, 3, and 8. With the valve in this position, the passage 1110 is connected to pressure P0 as shown in Fig. 3, the same as in Fig. 2. Hence the operation of the transfer valves of Fig. 2 is the same as with the selector valve 101 in its second position. However, in this third position of the valve 191, the passage 14% is also connected to the low pressure Pt instead of to the high pressure P2 as in Figs. 1 and 2, thereby connecting the control chambers 220 and 229T of the stop valves 209 and 209T, Fig. 8, to low pressure and permitting these valves to be moved to their upper position. In this position the power units 182 and 182T are disconnected from the control of the pilot valves 181 and 181T and the power units 182 and 182T are automatically brought to their mid-positions as mount in a given direction and is shown as limiting the elevational movement to a predetermined lower position,

although the control may be duplicated and used to limit any of the remaining three positions to which the mount may be driven by the elevation and train motors. In the system shown in Fig. 9 when the mount is lowered sufficiently to close the contacts 273, the solenoids 239 and 255 are actuated. Actuation of the solenoid 239 disconnects the chamber 220 of the stop valt e 2119, Fig. 2, from the duct 141 and connects the same to the low pressure P0 in duct 192T, thereby raising this valve to the position shown in Fig. 8 and cutting off the control of the power unit 182 from the pilot valve 181 and stopping the flow of liquid from the pump 171 as previously described, thus stopping the elevation motor 177, regardless of the position of the other controls. At the same time the actuation of solenoid 255 disconnects the elevation motor from the influence of the pump 171 and supplies fluid under pressure P2 thereto from the duct 262 in a direction to cause the motor to operate so as to raise the gun mount sufficiently to again open the contacts 273. When this occurs, the solenoids 239 and 255 are released and the elevation motor is restored to actuation by the pump 171.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of various uses and that changes and modifications may be made therein as will be apparent to a person skilled in the art. The invention is only to be limited in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A control system for gun mounts and the like comprising a manual controller, means actuated thereby to generate a control signal, a converter actuated by said control signal to produce a response signal, a variable speed reversible drive for said mount, control means to control the speed and direction of said drive, additional control means actuated by said manual controller, and selector means to connect said response signal or said additional control means to actuate said drive control means.

2. A control system for gun mounts and the like comprising a manual controller, means actuated thereby to generate a control signal, a converter actuated by said control signal to produce a response signal, a variable speed reversible drive for said mount, control means to control the speed and direction of said drive, additional means actuated by said controller to generate a second response signal, and selector means to connect said first response signal or said second response signal to actuate said drive control means.

3. A control system for gun mounts and the like comprising a manual controller, means actuated thereby to generate a control signal, a converter actuated by said control signal to produce a response signal, a variable speed reversible drive for said mount, control means to control the speed and direction of said drive, additional means actuated by said controller to generate a second response signal, and selector means to connect said control signal to said converter and said first response signal to said drive control means, or to disconnect said control signal from said converter and said first response signal from said drive control means and connect said second response signal to said drive control means.

4. A control system for gun mounts and the like com.- prising a manual controller, means actuated thereby to generate a control signal, a converter actuated by said control signal to produce a response signal, a variable speed reversible drive for said mount, control means to control the speed and direction of said drive, means responsive to said control signal to generate a second response signal, and a selector to connect said first or said second response signal to actuate said drive control means.

5. A control system for gun mounts and the like comprising a manual controller, means actuated thereby to generate a control signal, a converter actuated by said control si nal to produce a response signal, a variable speed reversible drive for said mount, control means to control the speed and direction of said drive, additional control means actuated by said manual controller, selector means to connect said response signal or said additional control means to actuate said drive control means, and means to disconnect said drive control means and bring the same to zero position for stopping the drive.

6. A control system comprising a manual controller, means actuated thereby to generate a control signal, a converter actuated by said control signal to produce a response signal, a variable speed reversible drive, a-driven member, control means to control the speed and direction of said drive, additional means actuated by said controller to generate a second response signal, selector means to connect said first response signal or said second response signal to actuate said .drive control means, and means actuated when said driven member reaches a limiting position to stop said drive regardless of said response signals.

7. A control system comprising a manual controller, means actuated thereby to generate a control signal, a converter actuated by said control signal to produce a response signal, a variable speed reversible drive, a driven member, control means to control the speed and direction of said drive, additional means actuated by said controller to generate a second response signal, selector means to connect said first response signal or said second response signal to actuate said drive control means, and means actuated when said driven member reaches a limiting position to render said .response signals inopera tive and to stop said drive and to impart a limited reverse movement thereto to cause the driven member to clear said limiting position.

8. A control system for gun mounts or the like comprising a manual controller, a hydraulic control pressure generating valve connected to be actuated by said controller, a converter actuated by said control pressure having means to generate a response volume, a response;

volume generating valve actuated by said control pressure to generate a second response volume which varies as-a function of said control pressure, a variable speed reversible hydraulic drive for said mount, hydraulic control means for said drive comprising a power system connected to control said drive and a pilot valve connected to control the actuation of said powersystem, a response volume chamber connected to .actuate said pilot valve, and a selector valve having means to connect said first response volume or said second response volume to said response volume chamber for actuating saidpilot valve.

9. A control system for gun mounts or the like comprising a manual controller, a hydraulic control pressure generating valve connected to be actuated by said controller, a converter actuated by said control pressure having means to generate a response volume, a response volume generating valve actuated by said control pressure to generate a second response volume which varies as a function of said control pressure, a variable speed reversible hydraulic drive for said mount, hydraulic control means for said drive comprising a power system connected to control said drive and a pilot valve connected to control the actuation of said power system, a response volume chamber connected to actuate said pilot valve, and a selector valve having means to connect said control pressure to said converter and said first response volume to said response volume chamber for actuating said pilot valve or to disconnect the converter and to connect said second response volume to said response volume chamber.

.10. A control system for gun mounts or the like corn- 1 prising a manual controller, a hydraulic control pressure generating valve conected to be actuated by said con-- troller, a converter actuated by said control pressure having means to generate a response volume, a response volume generating valve actuated by said control pressure to generate a second response volume which varies as a function of said control pressure, a variable speed reversible hydraulic drive for said mount, hydraulic control means for said drive comprising a power system connected.

to control said drive and a pilot valve connected to con- .trol the actuation of said power system, a response volume chamber connected to actuate said pilot valve, and a selector valve having means to connect said first response ing means to generate a response volume, a response volume generating valve actuated by said control pressure to generate a second response volume which varies as a function of said control pressure, a variable speed reversible hydraulic drive for said mount, hydraulic control means for said drive comprising a power system connected to control said drive and a pilot valve connected to control the actuation of said power system, a response volume chamber connected to actuate said pilot valve, a selector valve connected in one position to connect said control pressure to said converter and to connect said first response volume to said response volume chamber of said pilot valve and in a second position to disconnect said control pressure from said converter, to disconnect said first response volume from said response volume chamber and to connect said second response volume to said response volume chamber to actuate the pilot valve, and in a third position to disconnect said pilot valve from said power system and to cause said power system to take a position to stop said drive.

12. A control system for gun mounts or the like comprising a manual controller, a hydraulic control pressure generating valve connected to be actuated by said controller, a converter actuated by said control pressure having means to generate a response volume, a response volume generating valve actuated by said control pressure to generate a second response volume which varies as a function of said control presurefa variable speed reversible hydraulic drive for said mount, hydraulic control means for said drive comprising a power system connected to control said drive and a pilot valve connected to control the actuation of said power system, a response volume chamber connected to actuate said pilot valve, a selector valve connected in one position to connect said control pressure to said converter and to connect said first response volume to said response volume chamber of said pilot valve and in a second position to disconnect said control pressure from said converter, to disconnect said first response volume from said response volume chamber and to connect said second response volume to said response volume chamber to actuate the pilot valve, and in a thir d position to disconnect said pilot valve from said power system and to cause said power system to take a position to stop said drive, and limit means to disconnect said pilot val e from said power system and to cause said system to take a position to stop said drive and to supply fluid to said drive from a separate source to cause said drive to reverse its movement to clear said limit means.

13. A control system for gun mounts or the like cornprising a manual controller, a hydraulic control pressure generating valve connected to be actuated by said controller, a converter actuated by said control pressure having means to generate a response volume, a response volume generating valve actuated by said control pressure to generate a second response volume which varies as a function of said control pressure, a variable speed reversible drive for said mount, control means for said drive, a response volume chamber connected to actuate said drive control means, and selector means to connect said first or said second response volume to actuate said response volume chamber.

14. A control system for gun mounts or the like comprising a manual controller, means actuated thereby to generate a control signal, a converter actuated by said control signal to generate a response signal, means actuated by said control signal to generate a second response signal which varies as a function of said control signal, a variable speed reversible hydraulic drive for said mount, control means to control the speed and direction of said drive and selector means to connect said first or said second response signal to actuate said drive control means.

15. A control system for gun mounts and the like comprising a manual controller, means actuated thereby to generate a control signal, means responsive to said control signal to generate a response signal, a variable speed reversible drive for said mount, control means to control the speed and direction of said drive, means to connect said responsive means to actuate said drive control means, and means to disconnect said drive control means and to bring the variable speed drive to zero rate.

16. A control system for gun mounts and the like comprising a manual controller, means actuated thereby to generate a control signal, means responsive to said control signal to generate a response signal, a variable speed reversible drive for said mount, control means to control the speed and direction of said drive, means to connect said responsive means to actuate said drive control means, means actuated when said mount reaches a limiting position to render said responsive signals inoperative and to stop "said drive and to imp-art a limited reverse movement thereto to cause the mount to clear said limiting position.

17. A control system for gun mounts or the like comprising a manual controller, a hydraulic control pressure generating valve connected to be actuated by said controller, a response volume generating valve actuated by said control pressure to generate a response volume which varies as a function of said control pressure, a variable speed reversible hydraulic drive for said mount, hydraulic control means to control the speed and direction of said drive comprising a power system connected to control said drive and a pilot valve connected to control the actuation of said power system, a response volume chamber connected :to actuate said pilot valve, and means connecting said response volume to said response volume chamber for actuating said pilot valve.

18. A control system for gun mounts or the like comprising 'a manual controller, a hydraulic control pressure generating valve connected to be actuated by said controller, a response volume generating valve actuated by said control pressure to generate a response volume which varies as a function of said control pressure, a variable speed reversible hydraulic drive for said mount, hydraulic control means for said drive comprising a power system connected to control said 'drive and a pilot valve connected to control the actuation of said power system, a response volume chamber connected to actuate said pilot valve, means to connect said response volume to said response volume chamber for actuating said pilot valve and means to disconnect said response volume and bring said drive control to zero for stopping the drive.

19. A control system for gun mounts or the like comprising a variable speed reversible hydraulic drive for said mount including a Variable displacement pump and a hydraulic motor, control means for adjusting the displacement of said pump, means normally connecting the output of the pump to actuate said motor, and limit means operable to disconnect the output of the pump from the motor, to reduce the displacement of the pump to zero and to supply fluid to said motor from a separate source to cause said motor to reverse its movement to clear the said limit means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

